Arsene Wenger- Arsenal v Chelsea is still a big deal

Chelsea striker Diego Costa, who may not be available on Sunday due to injury, harassed and harangued both Gabriel and Koscielny – with both players involved in separate altercations with the Spain forward.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger managed just one win against his former Chelsea counterpart Mourinho in 15 attempts, and that came in this season’s Community Shield.

The 33 year old has been an outstanding performer for the Gunners this season, and Wenger says his experience on the pitch is invaluable. “It has a big importance to us as well”.

“I hope and think we will see another very attractive game on Sunday”.

It should also end the vague rumours linking current Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola with Arsenal, further cementing the liklihood that the Spaniard will be Manchester bound at the end of the season, with City the red-hot favourites to secure his services.

Perhaps the most memorable was Mourinho’s “specialist in failure” jab directed at Wenger as his wait for a Premier League title extended past the decade mark. By the time Arsenal kick off on Sunday they could have been replaced at the top on Saturday by second placed Leicester, who host Stoke, or third placed Manchester City, who travel to West Ham.

Until two years ago, Arsenal hadn’t won a major trophy for eight years.

Arsenal head into their clash with the Blues joint-top of the Premier League table, along with Leicester City, and have not lost since their Boxing Day thrashing at the hands of Southampton.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have endured a woeful defence of their title and sit 19 points behind their London rivals heading into their weekend clash at the Emirates Stadium and Wenger feels his defence has benefited from having such an experienced campaigner shoring them up. Chelsea will play on the counter attack, which could be successful, especially if Eden Hazard is back on his game after a groin injury.

That much, as combustible as ever, ended 2-0 to Chelsea with their opponents down to nine men, with Gabriel’s sending off after lashing out at Diego Costa being the game’s defining moment.

The Everton draw had extended Chelsea’s unbeaten run under Hiddink to six matches but, having drawn four of their five league games under the Dutchman, he is eager for them to start putting victories on the board. My main task is to get the team to where we desperately want to be.

Obviously, Ozil and Sanchez are the headliners, and we have good news regarding the pair for Arsenal supporters.

“He [Costa] has big worth for us, and his focus has to be on what he is good at”.